Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar criticized Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson and team management after Pakistan’s loss to India in the Asia Cup 2025 final, where Pakistan collapsed from 113/1 to 146 all out against India’s spin attack. Akhtar specifically pointed out the absence of Hasan Nawaz from the playing XI and questioned the team’s batting strategy and captaincy decisions during the match.India’s spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel dominated the Pakistani batting lineup. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout performer with four wickets, while Chakaravarthy and Patel claimed two wickets each.India’s chase of the modest target began shakily, with the team losing three early wickets for just 20 runs in four overs, including the dismissal of Abhishek Sharma for 5 runs.
Tilak Varma emerged as the key player in India’s victory, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls. His innings included a crucial six against Haris Rauf in the final over.Rinku Singh sealed the victory for India with a boundary, which was notably his only ball faced in the entire tournament.“It is the blame of the management who is not thinking right. Talking about senseless coaching, I would probably say. I probably – I am going to, sorry to say these kinds of harsh words, but it’s senseless coaching,” Akhtar expressed on Tapmad.Akhtar’s criticism extended to the team’s batting lineup and selection decisions. He emphasized the absence of key players and the team’s overdependence on lower-order batsmen.“Again, the match-winner Hasan Nawaz, and then we have Salman Mirza not playing. Again, it became a little difficult. We are very disappointed, very hurt. It was Super Sunday and the whole nation was watching, but our middle order is already a problem. You know it, I know it, we all keep saying our top three batsmen in the middle are a problem. And obviously, if you are asking too much from Mohammad Nawaz, and again, when Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf have to bat ahead, it’s questionable. Again, you expect the lower order to add 50 more runs, so we reach 175 – there are too many errors. Too many mistakes,” Akhtar stated.The former fast bowler also questioned captain Salman Ali Agha’s tactical decisions during the match, particularly regarding bowling changes.“Captaincy is questionable. Bowling changes – when the batters are struggling facing spinners, there was no need to bring in Haris Rauf, he leaked 17 runs in an over which was not the need. There are many reasons we lost, but again, it’s okay. It’s fine,” Akhtar concluded.The defeat highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing struggles with their middle-order batting and raised questions about team selection and tactical decisions in crucial matches.The match concluded with India successfully chasing down Pakistan’s total, despite early setbacks, largely due to Tilak Varma’s steady innings and effective support from teammates Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube.
